Policies

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians

Stirling Theological College acknowledges that the Wurundjeri people are the traditional owners of the land on which Stirling is located. Indigenous people have been the owners and custodians of this land for thousands of years.. It is our hope and prayer that we will honour this reality in our practice, our policies, and our living.

Attendance at Lectures

Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials. Students should advise their lecturer if they are unable to do so. An absence of more than 25% of lectures (or tutorials) in a unit is normally regarded as too great to sustain active engagement in that unit.

Children

Children are permitted in Stirling classes only by prior arrangement with the Registrar and teaching staff.

Disability

Every effort is made to assist students with disabilities. Students are asked to make any special needs known to the Stirling Registrar upon enrolment.

Lecturer’s Extension (14 days maximum)

If, in the lecturer’s estimation, there are sufficient grounds for a student to be granted a brief extension to complete an assignment, an alternative submission date not more than fourteen days beyond the due date may be negotiated. A completed ‘Application for Extension Form’ (Download Here) signed by the lecturer must be submitted to the Stirling Coursework Co-ordinator. A Lecturer’s extension may be negotiated on the understanding that the work must be completed and marked before class results are submitted, and that it will normally receive a one grade penalty – see Penalties for Late Work policy.

Failure to submit work by the negotiated date will automatically result in a ‘Fail’ grade. An application for Lecturer’s extension must normally be submitted before an assignment is due.

Special extension: Deans Extension (Up to 28 days)

If in the judgement of the Coursework Co-ordinator and the lecturer concerned, a student’s study is interrupted for a good and sufficient reason, the student may apply for a special extension of time to complete the requirements of a unit or subject provided that a substantial portion of the subject/unit has been satisfactorily completed. Life choices and employment choices are usually not considered a ‘good and sufficient reason’ for a special extension.

If you wish to apply for a special extension the read the following information carefully.

Where a special extension is granted, the letter ‘E’ for ‘Extension’ will be placed on the record as a temporary grade. Candidates with this designation must normally complete the assignment requirements no later than 28 days after the sixteenth week of the semester in which the unit is taught.

Other than in exceptional circumstances as approved by the Stirling Coursework Co-ordinator, candidates submitting assignments beyond these prescribed limits will receive only a Pass or Fail grade. In special circumstances, such as serious illness or severe personal problems, late submission may have a lesser or no penalty applied.

The procedure is as follows:

The student must discuss the reasons with the Coursework Co-ordinator.

Before the due date the student must apply to the Stirling Coursework Co-ordinator for a Dean’s extension using the Application for Extension form (Download Here) and including relevant documents (eg. doctor’s certificate).

Medical certificates should be dated and state that the medical condition in question affects the student’s academic performance.

All relevant documentation must be submitted before a special extension is granted.

The essay or assignment is to be handed in as soon as possible.

A maximum of two special extensions can be granted to a student undertaking a course of two years full-time duration or more. A only one special extension can be granted to a student undertaking a course of less than two years full-time duration. Only students with a documented disability can be exempt from this rule. Penalties will be applied automatically unless otherwise determined by the Stirling Coursework Co-ordinator in conjunction with the lecturer. The purpose of compliance with this policy is to ensure parity in extensions for all students across the University of Divinity.

Grading System

In common with other colleges of the University of Divinity, results are published according to the following grading system:

HD = High Distinction = 85%+

D = Distinction = 75-84%

C = Credit = 65-74%

P = Pass = 50-64%

F = Fail = 0-49%

PP = Pass where marked on Pass/Fail basis only

WD = Withdrawn

E = Extension [only two ‘E’ results will normally be allowed for the duration of a 3 year course]

Fail (F): less than 50%

The essay does not meet the requirements for a PASS grade in several ways:

It does not answer the question.

Its content is insufficient, brief and superficial in treatment.

There are serious factual errors that undermine the argument.

There is a serious lack of understanding of the issues and concepts involved in the question.

There is a lack of clarity of expression in choice of words, sentence and paragraph structure, spelling or grammar to such a degree that the essay is incomprehensible.

It inadequately conforms to the requirements for essay style and form.

Referencing and bibliography are either insufficient or absent.

Pass (P): 50 – 64%

The essay covers a reasonable number of relevant points raised in the question:

It follows all instructions given with the essay question.

It makes intelligent use of basic scholarship to sustain an argued case.

It is clearly expressed in an organised form.

Spelling and punctuation are accurate.

It conforms to the style conventions prescribed, i.e., there is adequate footnoting/referencing and bibliography, and an acceptable layout.

Credit (C): 65 – 74%

The essay meets the criteria for a PASS grade:

It shows some originality and/or independence of organisation and judgement.

There is critical handling of scholarship, especially beyond the basic specified range.

There is use of evidence beyond the basic specified range.

The argument is well structured and clearly expressed, with some complexity of writing style.

Referencing/footnotes and bibliography conform to the correct style.

Distinction (D): 75 – 84%

The essay meets the criteria for a CREDIT grade.

It shows some originality or independence of thought.

There is a high degree of precision and rigour in the argument.

It demonstrates an ability to critique existing scholarship.

There is evidence of extensive reading and deployment of appropriate evidence.

It is very well written with clarity of style.

High Distinction (HD): 85%+

The essay meets the criteria for a DISTINCTION grade.

It shows a marked degree of both originality and independence of thought.

There is a thorough critique of existing scholarship.

There is evidence of exceptional breadth of reading and a sophisticated use of appropriate evidence.

There is a marked degree of methodological rigour and sophistication.

The essay is exceptionally well written.

Internet and Computer Policy

Stirling makes Internet access available to all students. Use of this service is governed by the following principles:

The service is intended primarily as an aid to study and research. You may use it for other appropriate purposes such as obtaining software security updates, instant messaging and email, but these are considered to be secondary purposes. Such secondary access to the Internet may only be made when not in class.

The service may not be used for any commercial purposes, the sending of spam, nor for sending or accessing illegal content (including copyright-limited content such as pirated commercial music), nor for sending or accessing material that might reasonably be considered demeaning or offensive by any other student, staff member or visitor (such as pornographic or racist material). You should refrain from sending or accessing large files of little academic benefit.

Content filtering is used to govern access to some types of undesirable material, because it is unacceptable under the previous principle, or it is disruptive to others by nature, or because it causes a degradation in service for other users through excessive traffic generated, or for other reasons such as computer virus threat. Notwithstanding this, the user is responsible for all material accessed.

The service is not guaranteed to be available at any particular time, and its unavailability may not be used as a reason in support of requests for due date extensions for academic work or for grade revision.

Access to the wireless service requires the use of a password, which must not be passed on to any party outside Stirling. This password may be changed at any time by Stirling, and if circumstances require it, the level of wireless security may be raised without warning.

While limited help will be offered to those requesting assistance in connecting their computers to the wireless network, users are responsible for obtaining technical assistance elsewhere if their own computers cannot be made to connect by simply using the correct password.

Occupational Health and Safety

Stirling Theological College is committed to ensuring the highest level of health and safety for staff, students and other persons within its premises or wherever Stirling staff and students may be working, studying and researching.

Stirling will provide a workplace that is, as far as reasonably practicable: safe and healthy for staff, students, and visitors; and without risk to the environment, in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991, other relevant legislation, national standards and codes of practice.

Occupational health and safety is both an individual and shared responsibility. The success of the Occupational Health and Safety Policy and programs depends on the commitment and co-operation of all members of the Stirling community:

The Principal: will ensure that this policy is effectively implemented in their areas of control, and support any person delegated to supervise and hold them accountable for their specific responsibilities.

Supervising staff and faculty: will ensure that the workplace under their control is safe and without risks to health; and that the behaviour of all persons in the workplace is guided by the principles of occupational health and safety.

Staff, Students, Visitors and Contractors: are required to co-operate and actively contribute to the health and safety of themselves and others within the workplace.

Stirling will ensure that all staff, students and other persons within its premises are aware of this policy. Stirling will promote ongoing education and training programs to encourage all staff to integrate occupational health and safety into their work areas and role.

All persons shall co-operate to ensure knowledge and implementation of occupational health and safety principles. The existence and effective functioning of an occupational health and safety Committee will ensure consensus on occupational health and safety issues.

Stirling will integrate continuous improvement into its occupational health and safety performance. The auditing of occupational health and safety systems compliance will be an ongoing activity.

Stirling aims to ensure that its staff and students are aware of their health and safety practices.

Penalties for Late Work (No Extension)

A student who submits a piece of work after the due date without an extension having been granted previously will normally be penalised academically. All work, whether late or not, is to be graded and returned to students with appropriate feedback, and an indication of the grade which represents its academic worth. As regards the grade recorded for assessment purposes, the following general policy applies:

Work submitted up to two weeks late without an extension will have its recorded grade reduced by one level (e.g. Distinction to Credit), though such work passed by one examiner must have a Pass grade recorded.

Work submitted later than two weeks, but before 28 days after the sixteenth week of the semester in which the subject is taught without an extension will only have a Pass grade recorded (unless it fails to reach a Pass standard);

Work submitted later than 28 days after the sixteenth week of the semester in which the subject is taught without an extension will have a ‘Fail’ grade recorded.

A student may raise an academic grievance against the reduction of a grade for late work.

Staff and students’ rights, responsibilities and conduct

click here to see a more detailed statement regarding staff and students’ rights, responsibilities and conduct

Once you have commenced a degree or diploma, you are assured that educational and financial resources are in place to see you through to its completion. If the unlikely situation arises that Stirling cannot deliver a course for which you have paid fees, these will be refunded, or you can transfer to another provider nominated for this purpose by the University of Divinity.

If anyone should wish to file a complaint they should contact the Principal or the Registrar.